VR Tech Times

Bajaj Auto has disclosed that it was hit by a ransomware attack on June 23, affecting its own systems as well as those of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Bajaj Auto Technology Ltd. The attack occurred at around 8am IST, and the company said its technical teams, management and external cybersecurity experts immediately activated precautionary measures and response protocols to contain the breach. Ransomware attack hit Bajaj Auto and subsidiary Bajaj Auto Technology Ltd on June 23 Company says response measures have so far been successful in containing the incident Incident reported to CERT-In in accordance with regulatory requirements Bajaj Auto ransomware attack The company has not disclosed whether any data was compromised In a regulatory filing, Bajaj Auto said the precautionary measures activated in response to the attack had so far been successful. The company has reported the incident to the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) as mandated under applicable regulations, ...

If you are shopping for a new electric car between Rs 20-40 lakh range, there are currently quite a few competent offerings in the market. Homegrown carmakers like Tata and Mahindra have been the default choice here, but foreign players like Vinfast and BYD have also been steadily making inroads in the segment. Here, we have listed and ranked the five best electric SUVs that you can currently buy within a budget of Rs 20-40 lakh (ex-showroom).  Mahindra XEV 9S  Price: Rs 20.70 lakh - Rs 30.20 lakh The Mahindra XEV 9S is not only a well-rounded EV, but it’s also fantastic value for money. It’s powerful and great to drive, offers class-best 450km+ real-world range and is very refined, too. The interior is premium and feature-packed and the third-row, although tight on space, adds flexibility. The XEV 9S is only let down by some ergonomic flaws and an unintuitive infotainment UI/UX. Plus, the touch-heavy user interface could also be a downer for some. Battery options include ...

The Suzuki Burgman Street recently received its first major overhaul after eight years on sale, bringing a comprehensively revamped design, more underseat storage area, a new TFT display on the top variant and a 12-inch rear wheel across the range. It sits alongside – rather than replacing – the older Burgman EX, which is retained for its stop-start and silent start technology. Here's what works in its favour and a couple of reasons it might not be the best option. Reasons to buy the 2026 Suzuki Burgman Street Smarter design and generous practicality The new Burgman is a notably better-looking scooter than the one it replaces. The more angular design language, new headlight and revised proportions give it a welcome touch of sophistication, and the external fuel filler lid (also seen on the latest Access) adds a practical touch. The 24.6-litre underseat storage area, achieved cleverly without compromising on the larger rear wheel, will swallow two full-face helmets. Two front apron...

KTM has updated the 790 Duke, giving its middleweight naked motorcycle its biggest update yet. While the Euro 5+ compliant 799cc LC8c engine remains unchanged, KTM has extensively revised the bike's ergonomics, chassis, suspension, braking package and styling. KTM 790 Duke gets revised ergonomics and a claimed 2kg weight reduction Gets new WP radial brakes and Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV tyres  Features styling inspired by the 990 Duke and 1390 Super Duke R KTM 790 Duke: What’s new? KTM has also confirmed that it will phase out Demo Mode on future models following customer feedback. The most significant changes are to the bike's ergonomics. KTM has fitted a new handlebar with a more open angle, repositioned the rider and pillion footpegs, and redesigned the seat to create a more natural riding position. A new subframe, revised triple clamps and a reshaped fuel tank are also said to improve front-wheel feedback. Despite its larger appearance, KTM claims the updated 790 Duke is 2kg...

Honda ’s V3R prototype - showcased at EICMA 2025 - has already garnered considerable interest with its compact V3 engine paired with an electrically driven supercharger. Multiple fresh patent filings overseas now indicate that the technology is intended for more than just one motorcycle, with Honda exploring its application across a wide range of existing and future models. New patents show e-compressor integration on Gold Wing, Fireblade and NC750 Modular V3 engine architecture could spawn V-twin and V6 derivatives Electric supercharger promises higher performance with improved efficiency Honda expands scope of its e-compressor technology Patent filings reveal plans for multiple motorcycle platforms The newly published patents illustrate the electric compressor being adapted to several engine configurations, including flat-six, parallel-twin, V-twin and inline-four layouts. This suggests Honda views the technology as a modular solution that could be incorporated into different motorc...

Aprilia India has launched the Tuono 457 Special Edition, introducing a range of ergonomic and comfort-focused upgrades over the standard Tuono 457. Priced at Rs 3.99 lakh (ex-showroom, Maharashtra), the Special Edition costs just Rs 2,000 more than the standard model. Adds taller handlebar, revised suspension Available in two Aprilia Tuono 1000R-inspired colour schemes 457cc parallel-twin makes 47.6hp and 43.5Nm Aprilia Tuono 457 Special Edition details The mechanical and electronics package have been carried over from the standard bike Aprilia says the changes to the Special Edition are focused on comfort and daily usability. The updates include a taller handlebar, which should translate to a more upright riding position, and suspension that has been recalibrated with a softer initial stroke and revised compression damping for improved ride quality. The seat now uses high-resilience foam that the manufacturer says offers better damping of road and engine vibrations. An adjustable fr...

GOOD FOR: Refined engines, comfy cabin LOOK OUT FOR: Interior rattles, suspension wear The Maruti Fronx was launched in 2023 as a more stylish and practical alternative to the Baleno hatchback it is based on. Thanks to its attractive design and spacious interior, the Fronx has gone on to be very popular with buyers in its segment. There are plenty of examples now in the used market, which makes it quite enticing. Here’s what you need to know.   Check out used Maruti Suzuki Fronx models. Maruti Fronx powertrains and fuel efficiency CNG, naturally-aspirated and turbo-petrol options The Fronx brought back the 1.0-litre Boosterjet turbo-petrol engine to Maruti’s line-up. This engine was first introduced in the Baleno RS back in 2017, but it was discontinued owing to low demand and the shift to BS6. The Boosterjet turbo-petrol engine puts out 100hp and 148Nm, and is paired with either a 5-speed manual or a 6-speed torque-converter automatic. This makes the Fronx the only Maruti Su...

Classic Legends has comprehensively updated the Yezdi Scrambler for 2026, bringing revised styling, an updated engine, reduced weight and a new electronics package featuring traction control, three riding modes and switchable ABS. After spending some time with it, here's what works in its favour and a couple of reasons it might not be the best option. Reasons to buy the 2026 Yezdi Scrambler Potent low- and mid-range performance The revised 334cc engine, now producing 30hp and 30Nm, is the standout improvement on the new Scrambler. Bottom-end performance is genuinely impressive, and the motorcycle feels smooth and responsive in city traffic, comfortably pulling from as low as 25kph in fourth gear without any fuss. Mid-range performance is equally potent, making this easily the nicest and most refined Yezdi engine yet – even if you do need to work the gearbox a bit more given the short gearing. Improved ride quality Classic Legends has retuned the suspension with revised spring and ...

Tyres may not be the most glamorous topic of discussion in the automotive world, despite arguably being the most important. Most enthusiasts, when talking about the most track-focused supercar, will focus on horsepower and torque figures or incredible downforce, but seldom, if ever, will you find a mention of those black circles doing all the dirty work. The truth, however, is that whether your car has 50hp or 500, it means absolutely nought if it can’t be transmitted to the road. Which is why, if you are serious about extracting the most performance from your car, tyres are the first things you should consider upgrading. Why upgrade from OEM tyres The tyres that manufacturers choose to equip their cars with have to serve several very specific criteria. For one, they have to be as efficient as can be to achieve those ARAI mileage figures that customers swear by. They also need to be quiet and absorbent so you aren’t put off by tyre roar and a harsh ride when you take a test drive. The...

Sitting at the bottom of KTM ’s Adventure range, the 250 Adventure borrows its styling and much of its equipment from its larger siblings while being powered by the same 249cc engine as the 250 Duke . Here are the three things we liked most and two areas where we think it could be better. 3 reasons to buy the KTM 250 Adventure 1. Rich feature list The latest-generation 250 Adventure finally gets the equipment it always deserved. A crisp 5-inch TFT display with Bluetooth connectivity, turn-by-turn navigation, music and call controls brings it up to date, while a bi-directional quickshifter and switchable rear ABS add genuine functionality rather than unnecessary gimmicks. 2. Quick, yet efficient engine The new 249cc single-cylinder engine strikes an impressive balance between performance and economy. It feels smooth and responsive, offers a strong mid-range and top-end, and returned 34kpl in the city and 39kpl on the highway in our tests, giving it a potential range of over 450km on ...

India has a fascination for the “SUV” moniker. Vehicles of all shapes and sizes are advertised as SUVs if they have a taller roof than a hatchback or sedan and do not have a third box at the back. Study the SIAM classification, and you see vehicles like Syros , Exter , Fronx and Magnite sitting alongside the likes of Thar , Bolero , Gurkha and Jimny in the “UVC” sub-segment under the B segment.  The Thar and the Fronx are supposed to be “competitors”, but in what way? How can one evaluate the Gurkha versus the Exter? It’s a bit like putting Hulk Hogan and Bruce Lee in the same category for a fight till the end!  It is time that we logically had a new category in the SIAM classification simply called “Crossover”. These are vehicles between a hatch and a true SUV. They are taller than the hatch, but not as tall as the SUV. They have higher ground clearance than the hatch, but not as much as the SUV. They are, as the word is, a cross between a traditional hatch and an SUV. T...

The Hero Xoom 160 is one of the few locally-made scooters available in India with a liquid-cooled engine. Considering that the biggest Xoom is the first product to use this motor, we had no reference point going into our tests. Here’s how the Xoom performed in our instrumented performance tests as verified by our Vbox. Hero Xoom 160 acceleration 0-60kph 5.96s 0-80kph 10.66s 0-100kph 18.62s The Xoom 160 ’s liquid-cooled engine is rated for 14.8hp at 8,000rpm and 14 Nm of torque at 6,250rpm - numbers that are very similar to its only rival at the moment - the Yamaha Aerox 155 . The Xoom’s engine is quick to build power and there’s linear power delivery all across the rev band although the accelerator’s travel could be a little shorter. The numbers the Xoom achieved in our tests are fairly respectable, especially considering that at 142kg, it is one of the heavier scooters on sale today. Hero Xoom 160 roll-on acceleration 20-50kph 3.11s 30-70kph 6.89s 50-80kph 8.29s Roll-on acceleration...

Hero MotoCorp has been quite vocal about the fact that the Xtreme 250R is the fastest machine in its segment. Said segment is rather small with only the KTM 250 Duke in it. To verify whether Hero’s claims about its biggest Xtreme ever are true we tested both bikes back using our VBox and here are the results. Hero Xtreme 250R vs KTM 250 Duke: Acceleration   Hero Xtreme 250R KTM 250 Duke 0-60kph 3.15s 3.44s 0-80kph 5.2s 5.50s 0-100kph 8.22s 8.50s Straight out of the gate, the Xtreme starts building an advantage over the Duke and the gap between the two at any given speed is near the 0.3 second mark. The KTM has long been the king of the quarter-litre sporty segment but the Hero’s stronger low and mid range punch have allowed it to usurp that throne. Also at play here is the fact that the Duke’s engine only really comes alive only post 7,000rpm and below that threshold, its power delivery is quite linear and mellow. Hero Xtreme 250R vs KTM 250 Duke: Roll-on acceleration   H...